windup

or wind-up

[ wahynd-uhp ]
/ ˈwaɪndˌʌp /

noun

the conclusion of any action, activity, etc.; the end or close.
a final act or part.
Baseball. the preparatory movements of the arm before pitching a ball. Compare stretch(def 22).
Informal. a mechanical object, as a toy or wristwatch, that is driven by a spring or similar mechanism that must be wound.
an act or instance of winding up.

Origin of windup

First recorded in 1565–75; noun use of verb phrase wind up

Definition for wind up (2 of 2)

Origin of wind

2
before 900; Middle English winden, Old English windan; cognate with Dutch, German winden, Old Norse vinda, Gothic -windan; akin to wend, wander

British Dictionary definitions for wind up (1 of 4)

wind up
/ (waɪnd) /

verb (adverb)

noun wind-up

British Dictionary definitions for wind up (2 of 4)

wind 1
/ (wɪnd) /

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of wind

windless, adjective windlessly, adverb windlessness, noun

Word Origin for wind

Old English wind; related to Old High German wint, Old Norse vindr, Gothic winds, Latin ventus

British Dictionary definitions for wind up (3 of 4)

wind 2
/ (waɪnd) /

verb winds, winding or wound

noun

See also wind down, wind up

Derived forms of wind

windable, adjective

Word Origin for wind

Old English windan; related to Old Norse vinda, Old High German wintan (German winden)

British Dictionary definitions for wind up (4 of 4)

wind 3
/ (waɪnd) /

verb winds, winding, winded or wound

(tr) poetic to blow (a note or signal) on (a horn, bugle, etc)

Word Origin for wind

C16: special use of wind 1

Scientific definitions for wind up

wind
[ wĭnd ]

A current of air, especially a natural one that moves along or parallel to the ground, moving from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure. Surface wind is measured by anemometers or its effect on objects, such as trees. The large-scale pattern of winds on Earth is governed primarily by differences in the net solar radiation received at the Earth's surface, but it is also influenced by the Earth's rotation, by the distribution of continents and oceans, by ocean currents, and by topography. On a local scale, the differences in rate of heating and cooling of land versus bodies of water greatly affect wind formation. Prevailing global winds are classified into three major belts in the Northern Hemisphere and three corresponding belts in the Southern Hemisphere. The trade winds blow generally east to west toward a low-pressure zone at the equator throughout the region from 30° north to 30° south of the equator. The westerlies blow from west to east in the temperate mid-latitude regions (from 30° to 60° north and south of the equator), and the polar easterlies blow from east to west out of high-pressure areas in the polar regions. See also Beaufort scale chinook foehn monsoon Santa Ana.

Idioms and Phrases with wind up (1 of 2)

wind up

1

Come or bring to a finish, as in The party was winding up, so we decided to leave, or Let's wind up the meeting and get back to work. [Early 1800s] Also see wind down.

2

Put in order, settle, as in She had to wind up her affairs before she could move. [Late 1700s]

3

Arrive somewhere following a course of action, end up, as in We got lost and wound up in another town altogether, or If you're careless with your bank account, you can wind up overdrawn. [Colloquial; early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with wind up (2 of 2)

wind